Propulsion device



Jan. 5 1926.

E. GELLY PROPULsIoN DEVICE Filed Jan. 25 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 laan;61075/4 mail Jain'. -5

E. GELLY PRoPULsIoN DEVICE Fil'ed Jan. 25 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a a sZZIOTII@ K E. GELLY PROPULSION DEVICEv Filed Jan.

25, 1924 sheets-sheet 3 v 550: i n

Patented Jan. 5, *1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- EVANS GELLY, OE QUEBEC, QUEBEC, CANADA.

PROPULSION :DEVICE` Application led January 25, 1924:. Serial No.688,566.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EVANS GELLY, subject of the'King of Great Britain,residing at Quebec, in the Province of Quebec, Canada7 have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Propulsion Devices; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention; such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same. Y

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in apropulsion device designed especially to replace wheels of automobilesin winter.

In regions where there is a heavy fall of snow in winter', it ispractically impossible to use an automobile without the aid of a specialtraction device.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of such a devicewhich may be attached to an automobile in place of the wheels,particularly the rear wheels.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a device of thischaracter of means whereby the effective height thereof may be varied tosuit the height of the axle or to comply with other requirements.

The invention further includes a means for attaching the device to thechassis of the vehicle in such a manner that it is kept in line with thedirection of travel `of the vehicle. l

The invention is fully disclosed in the following Idescription and inthe accompanying drawings in which: i Q

.Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device applied to an automobile;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device;

Figure Y3 is a section on the line 3`3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4l Figure 1;

Figure 5 device;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure the tread;

Figure S is a section on the line 8*-8 of Figure 7 ;r

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through the wheel andmounting therefor;

IFigure '1,0 is A section on the line `10e-,10 .af Figure);

is a section on the line t-ll of is a. longitudinal section-.of the 7 isa fragmentary plan view of Figure 11 is a section on the line 11--11 ofFigure 5;

Figure 12 of Figure 11; l

Figure 13 is a sect-ion on the line 13-13 of Figure 12;

Figure-14 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable axle bearings.

In these views. in which like reference characters are employed todesignate corresponding parts throughout, the numeral 1 designates avehicle to which is applied the propulsionk 'device generally designatedby the numeral 2. The frame of the device comprises a pair of sideplates 3 the upper edges of which are connected by means of a coverplate l whichextends beyond these edges forming flanges 5 therewith. Thelower side of the frame is open, as shown in Figure 6,the lower edges ofthe side plates having angle bars 6 secured thereto and extendinginwardly of the frame to form tracks which are described moreparticularly below.

At eachen'd of the frame is mounted a shaft 7 which is held rigidly inplace by means of bolts 8 and 9 and washers 10. f The central portion ofeach shaft isfitted with a. collar 11 upon which is mounted a rotatablesprocket wheel 12, roller bearings 13 beingy interposed. They sprocketwheel is prevented from lateral shifting by means of collars l/'whichare locked in place by setscrews 1 sage 15 which communicates with anaperture 16 in the member 11, and an oil cup 17 is screwed into theouter edge of the passage whereby the roller bearing ofthe sprocketwheel y,is lubricated.

The ground or upper portion of each side plate is formed with asubstantially square opening 18 which is surrounded by a frame 19 boltedto the inner face of the plate. Strips 2O are secured to the verticalsides of the frame, the inner edges of said'sides and is a section onthe lineU12-12 The bolt 8 isforined with an oil pas-V strips beingdovetailedas at 21.A A bearing member consisting of a body 22 and sleeve23 is adapted for movement between the strips 20, the edges of the bodybeing pointed as at V'24: for sliding in the dovetails 21. A shaftextension'25 having a flange 26 at its inner end is passed through thesleeves 23 and is adapted to receive an end of the rear axle 27 of thevehicle, the brake drum 28 being riveted to the flanged portion [26, A,belt g? having a threaded rec-ess in its end is inserted into the outerend ot the shatt extension and receives the threaded end 27 of the driveshaft, this bolt being locked in position by means of the set screw 29.Roller bearings Si are inserted between the extension shaft and thesleeves 23. Between the sleeves a sprocket wheel 32 is secured to theshatt by means ot a key 432. The frames 19 are 'formed on their upperand lower edges with inwardly extending lugs 33 which receive adjustmentscrews 3ftbearing on opposite sides ot each of the sleeves. Access tothe screws may be had through hand holes 35 in the side plates 2 whichare normally closed by covers 36. It will be apparent that by means oitthese screws the elevation of the bearings may be adjusted with respectto the trame, whereby the effective height ot the device may be variedto suit requirements.

To vt-he inner tace ot each side plate is iixed a curved angle bar 37which extends in parallelism with the corresponding bar 6 and around theshafts 7 and 25, as shown in Figure 5. Curved track members 38, whichareA also angle irons, are riveted to the side plates in parallelismwith the portions of the bar 37 between the shaft 35 and the shaft 7. Anendless sprocket chain 39 is passed around the wheels l2 and 32. Certainot the links 4() ot this chain are equipped with webs 41 having lateralextensions 42 to which are bolted tread members 4.3. rllhe ends ot thesemembers are reduced as at lll for receiving channel pieces i15 secured'thereto by bolts d6. A journal 47 is formed integral `with the piecesand has tired thereon a hub etti which is spaced from the channel pieceby means ot' a washer 50. Ythe hub is surrounded by a ball bearing 5l tothe outer portion ot which is secured a wheel rim 52. A hard rubber tire53 surrounds the wheel rim. The wheels thus formed at the ends ot eachof the tread members travel on the continuons tracks 37 and also bearagainst. the angle bars G and S. Side plates 2 are rigidly held therequired distance apart by means ot suitable tie rods et and sleeves 49,as shown in Figure ll.

To the forward end of each ot 'the side plates is riveted a bracket 55,these brackets having connected thereto converging straps 56 which arejoined to a lug 57 formed on a screw cap 58. l/Vithin the cap is"threaded one end ot' a cylinder 59, the Vother end ot which is fittedwith a screw cap 60 having a central aperture (51. A bracket 62 issecured to the underside ot the ruiming board or chassis G3 ot 'thevehicle and supports an eye (S4. A piston rod G5 which is connected tothe eye extends into the cyllinder 59 through the opening 6l and isprovided at its inner end with a piston 66 adapted to slide within thecylinder. A coil spring (37 surrounds the rod 6l between the piston andthe cap GO. By virtue oit the connection between the forward end of eachpropulsion device and a portion oit the chassis, the devices are causedto follow the line ot 'travel ot' the vehicle, ln these movements andduring tilting of the devices upon the axle` 'the shock is taken up bythe spring G7 within the cylinder.

While a specific embodiment ot the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it to be understood that various alterations in the detailset construction may be made without departing from the spirit ot' theinvention as indicated by the appended claims.

`Having thus fully described the invention, what l claim as new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. fr propulsion devicecomprising a trame including side members having openings termedtherethrough, a trame surrounding each ot said openings, a bearingmember slidable in each ot said openings, lugs 'toi-ined on said trames,screws passed through said lugs and adapted to engage thebearingmembers, an extension shaft Vsupported in said bearing membersand adapted to be secured to the driving axle ot' a vehicle, a sprocketwheel keyed to said extension shaft, additional sprocket wheelssupported by the trame, and a 'tread member surrounding said sprocketwheels.

A propulsion device comprising a 'frame including side plates, trackmembers supported by said plates, shafts mounted in the trame, sprocketwheels mounted on the shafts, a tread member passed around said wheels,and provided at its ends with roller wheels adapted to travel in saidtracks, and means for actuating saidmember from the driving axle.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EVANS GELLY.

Utl

